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The National (Scotland)
The National (Scotland)
National
Hamish Morrison

How Scottish Labour MPs voted on disability cuts bill

SCOTTISH Labour overwhelmingly backed the UK Government’s plans to cut a disability benefit.

Keir Starmer saw off a rebellion which saw 47 Labour MPs vote against the Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill at its final reading in the Commons on Thursday night.

The bill will increase the basic Universal Credit standard allowance at least in line with inflation until 2029/30.

But the Government has proposed freezing the “limited capability for work” (LCW) part of the benefit until 2030 – a measure which triggered a separate rebellion of 37 Labour MPs.

New claimants who sign up for the “limited capability for work and work-related activity” payment would receive a lower rate than existing claimants after April 2026, unless they meet a set of severe conditions criteria or are terminally ill, which the same rebels also opposed.

Rachael Maskell, who helped see off proposed cuts to Personal Independence Payments that the Government was forced to take out of the bill, said: “No matter what spin, to pass the bill tonight, this will leave such a stain on our great party, founded on values of equality and justice.”

LibDem MP Christine Jardine (below) lost her role in the party’s front bench as Scotland spokesperson for voting against a Tory-led amendment to the bill.

A party spokesperson said the official position was to abstain, as “a vote against was effectively a vote to implement this shambolic bill in full”.

They added: “Instead LibDems voted to oppose the welfare bill altogether. Christine decided to take a different view and therefore is no longer on the front bench.”

How Scottish Labour MPs voted on the Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill at third reading

For

  • Zubir Ahmed, Glasgow South West
  • Douglas Alexander, East Lothian
  • Scott Arthur, Edinburgh South West
  • Richard Baker, Glenrothes and Mid Fife
  • Johanna Baxter, Paisley and Renfrewshire South
  • Torcuil Crichton, Na h-Eileanan an Iar
  • Graeme Downie, Dunfermline and Dollar
  • Patricia Ferguson, Glasgow West
  • Alan Gemmell, Central Ayrshire
  • John Grady, Glasgow East
  • Lillian Jones, Kilmarnock and Loudoun
  • Chris Kane, Stirling and Strathallan
  • Douglas McAllister, West Dunbartonshire
  • Martin McCluskey, Inverclyde and Renfrewshire West
  • Blair McDougall, East Renfrewshire
  • Gordon McKee, Glasgow South
  • Frank McNally, Coatbridge and Bellshill
  • Kirsty McNeill, Midlothian
  • Chris Murray, Edinburgh East and Musselburgh
  • Ian Murray, Edinburgh South
  • Katrina Murray, Cumbernauld and Kirkintilloch
  • Gregor Poynton, Livingston
  • Joani Reid, East Kilbride and Strathaven
  • Martin Rhodes, Glasgow North 
  • Michael Shanks, Rutherglen
  • Kenneth Stevenson, Airdrie and Shotts
  • Elaine Stewart, Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock
  • Kirsteen Sullivan, Bathgate and Linlithgow
  • Alison Taylor, Paisley and Renfrewshire North
  • Imogen Walker, Hamilton and Clyde Valley
  • Melanie Ward, Cowdenbeath and Kirkcaldy

Against

  • Maureen Burke, Glasgow North East
  • Irene Campbell, North Ayrshire and Arran
  • Tracy Gilbert, Edinburgh North and Leith
  • Brian Leishman, Alloa and Grangemouth
  • Euan Stainbank, Falkirk

No vote recorded

  • Pamela Nash, Motherwell, Wishaw and Carluke
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